Chapter 22: Dean Duke Valendo (2)
The mindset toward fighting divided people into two types.
There were those who fought merely to survive, and then there were the warmongers who reveled in the act of combat itself.
If Duke Valendo was the epitome of the latter, I, Evan Lafard, leaned closer to the former.
Yet, both types shared one thing in common: neither shied away from a fight when it came.
He’s asking for a fight? Then I’ll give him one.
My way of thinking was surprisingly simple. If someone wanted to cross swords with me, I considered it only right to oblige.
But even so, I always thought about how to give my all. In this duel with Duke Valendo, the first move was a surprise attack.
Clatter!
I flipped the desk to obscure his view and simultaneously kicked it toward him with a single strike.
Crash!
Most would’ve taken some damage here, big or small, but who was my opponent? He was the muscle-bound monster who’d once earned a duel from me when I was a Weapon Master—now seasoned with what they called experience.
“Haha! Have you ever seen such a brazen cadet!”
The dean showcased monstrous strength, tearing the wooden desk in half.
“Crazy! Evan! Dean! What are you all doing?” the Head Instructor shouted.
“Head Instructor, keep quiet. We’re quite serious here. Right, huh?!”
While the dean was distracted, I laid the groundwork for my next attack.
Of course he wouldn’t be hurt by a mere desk. There’s only one way to beat you.
Immediately, I yanked the carpet on the floor.
Rip!
As a high-quality piece befitting the dean’s office, it didn’t tear easily. That meant even with the dean’s foot half-caught, it dragged him along. I wrapped the carpet around my arm and threw it like a net at him.
Flap!
“This expensive thing!”
The carpet draped over the dean’s head, entangling him like a snare.
His eyes are covered.
I picked up a quill pen from the floor and aimed it at the sole of Duke’s foot, stabbing down.
Crack!
The quill bent upon contact with his shoe, despite him not wearing steel boots.
Damn, he’s ridiculously tough. Does this guy even age?
His body was absurdly impervious, not a single weak spot to exploit. This durability surpassed even the Alraune I’d faced days ago.
I’ll need to use some Qi…
At that moment, the dean lightly kicked out.
That’s an attack that’d break bones even if blocked.
To him, it was playful; to me, it was potentially lethal. Instead of raising my arms, I instinctively twisted my body to dodge.
Whoosh!
His kick sliced through the air, shaking the bookshelves in the dean’s office. The mere wind pressure felt like a blow.
The gap between the current me and the dean was like heaven and earth. Winning head-on was near impossible.
The dean, knowing this, adjusted his strength to test how far I could go. That was his first mistake—and his downfall.
He should never have gone easy on me. He should’ve given his all, even if the Head Instructor tried to stop him, and subdued me at the first opportunity.
Now, he’d pay the price for not doing so.
Dash!
I charged straight at him.
“Oh?”
I’d been using tricks like surprise attacks to blind him. But now, a frontal assault?
Not to brag, but does this kid think he can match my physique?
In all his life, no one had ever bested him in a test of strength—not even monsters.
Those who faced him usually sought to outmaneuver rather than overpower. Even that unbeatable figure from long ago, the Empire’s vanguard, had done the same.
And yet, he comes straight at me…
Moreover, his opponent was a cadet far smaller in stature. My fearless charge piqued the dean’s interest. That was his second mistake.
“Come on!”
The dean spread his arms for a head-on clash. At the same time, the Head Instructor, watching from the side, saw me pull something out.
Huh? When did he—
As he realized, I threw something—an ink bottle that had been rolling on the floor alongside the quill.
Black ink splattered, covering the dean’s face.
“Ugh!”
The black liquid splashed toward his eyes. He raised his palm to shield them, but a drop hit near his eye, and he reflexively closed them.
Smart move. Alright, come at me.
It was a good attempt to exploit a fleeting gap, but it wouldn’t be enough to beat him.
To prove it, the dean braced his legs to counter me. And I was just as serious.
“Hup!”
I gathered all my Qi, channeling it into my legs, and rammed into him with full force.
Clang!
A short-distance charge. The unexpected power disrupted the dean’s balance, which he’d maintained with ease.
I heard he could use Qi, but to control it to this degree already!
As the dean marveled, I gritted my teeth and kept pushing.
Pushing a boulder would be easier than this!
Thud! Thud!
With momentum, I barreled across the dean’s office, managing to shove him to the window. But beyond that, he wouldn’t budge. He’d opened his eyes.
“Haha, you little rascal. That was quite a surprise. But this strength contest ends—”
He started to praise me, but I was gone from his sight. Instead, he saw the Head Instructor gaping at something behind him.
“Evan, you lunatic! Get down now!”
I’d already slipped behind the dean, perched on the windowsill.
“I had no choice if I wanted to beat you, Dean. This was the only way.”
I tore the curtain and wrapped it around his neck. Without a moment’s hesitation, I shattered the window and leapt out.
Crash!
From the top floor of the Academy, dozens of meters high.
“No! Dean! Grab the curtain and pull yourself up!”
If the curtain tore, I’d die instantly. Panicked by the unexpected situation, the dean stumbled back, reaching for the curtain around his neck. But he misstepped.
“Whoa!”
At his feet lay the empty ink bottle that had spilled earlier.
“Dean!”
Losing balance, the curtain tightened around his neck, and he plummeted out the window.
“Dean or cadet, none of you are sane!”
The Head Instructor leapt out after us. Far below, he saw us falling.
Evan, did you really risk your life to win?
He couldn’t believe I’d go that far. But reflecting on my past actions, he couldn’t rule it out either. To get answers, he first had to reach the ground safely.
Shing.
The Head Instructor drew his sword, enveloping it with aura, and stabbed it into the stone wall to slow his descent.
Scrape!
Meanwhile, the dean, falling alongside me, positioned himself below to shield me, cradling me in his arms. I… just hid in his embrace.
We hit the ground first.
Boom!
Shortly after, the Head Instructor landed lightly.
Tap.
Moments ago, we’d been in the dean’s office; now, we were in the clearing beside the Academy Main Building. The Head Instructor was relieved no one was watching. If anyone had seen, it would’ve caused a stir.
“Dean! Evan!”
He wanted to get us out before anyone arrived.
“Ugh, my body’s not what it used to be.”
Even for the dean, falling dozens of meters wasn’t without impact.
“Dean! Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Do I look like someone who’d break from this?”
He said this while rubbing his lower back and standing. Meanwhile, I, having used the dean as a shield, sprang up, ready to fight again.
Then, clutching my ribs, I dropped to one knee. Even with the impact softened, some damage had gotten through.
“Ugh, that was too much. I…”
Unable to continue the fight, I opened my mouth to concede.
“I lo—”
“I lost. If I kept fighting you even a bit longer, it would’ve been real trouble,” the dean declared, surrendering before I could.
“I’ve lived a long life, and you’re the first besides me to fight like your life’s on the line. That’s enough.”
“You’re really saying I won? You don’t seem satisfied.”
“What can we do? Neither of us can die, right?”
“Then I’ll gratefully accept. My bones feel cracked as it is.”
“Lucky you, considering you fell from there. Go get treated.”
As the dean, he prioritized me, the cadet. With the duel concluded, I headed toward the Infirmary to leave.
“One question before you go. Why did you so readily accept my sparring offer? I didn’t even offer a reward.”
The dean’s question was one the Head Instructor was curious about too. I’d always moved for rewards, so why now?
“…I just wanted to fight you.”
I remembered the words the young Duke had said after losing to me.
—When I get stronger and come back, let’s fight again! Haha!
That promise, unfulfilled in my past life.
“Just that? Haha! Your thinking suits me perfectly! Ow, my back.”
“You seem in pain too, Dean. I’ll take my leave.”
I didn’t yet voice my wish to fight him properly another time. It was too soon, at least until I’d grown to my satisfaction.
It won’t take long. So wait, Duke.
I limped toward the Infirmary, my body aching.
***
Back in the dean’s office, an Instructor was cleaning up the mess.
“Thanks for the hard work. All because of this old man.”
“No trouble at all!”
“You can go now. I’ll have someone else handle this.”
“Yes, sir!”
Seeing the disciplined response, the dean patted the Instructor’s shoulder with a generous smile. Sitting on a chair, he spoke with Everhart.
“That kid’s something else. Make sure he doesn’t get hurt; keep a close eye on him.”
“No need to worry about that. You should take care of yourself, Dean. That fall must’ve hit hard.”
“It’s not the fall.”
“Huh?”
At Everhart’s question, Duke pointed to his shirt. A clear footprint marked his stomach.
“The kid attacked me just before we hit the ground. He really wanted to win.”
“Attacking in that chaos…”
“He’s something else. Truly remarkable.”
Praising me, Duke suddenly changed the topic.
“With so much talent, this year’s the right time.”
“For what?”
Everhart asked at the abrupt remark. Duke explained kindly.
“To select the Executors.”
“Executors? You mean His Majesty’s personal unit?”
When Duke nodded, Everhart recoiled.
“How can you decide to train Executors on your own? Even as dean, you need the royal family’s permission…”
“I know. That’s why His Majesty issued an edict. I have the document.”
Duke pulled a folded document from a leather coat in the corner.
“Who folds an edict like that?”
“It’s just for us to see, so what’s the issue?”
“Sigh…”
“Look here.”
As Duke said, the edict instructed selecting candidates from promising classes within five years to train as Executors.
“It’s real. But when did you go to the palace? Weren’t you off hunting monsters?”
“Exactly. I was hunting.”
“Then how did this end up with you? The emissary?”
Everhart placed the edict gently on the desk. Duke folded it again, tossing it into a drawer, and said,
“He’s at the northern port.”
“You should’ve brought him here. He’s carrying His Majesty’s orders; we should’ve hosted him properly.”
“He refused. Said he wants to stay quietly for a while.”
“Why linger after delivering an edict?”
“Well… if the Princess wants to stay, that’s that.”
“Huh. That makes sense… Wait, what? The one who brought the edict was…”
“Princess Anna.”
“Oh…!”
How many shocks could one day bring? Everhart’s heart could barely take it.